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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 6, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, Manufacturer

ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB) vs Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)

If gaming performance is your priority, go for the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB) with its 144Hz refresh rate. On the other hand, the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024) excels in everyday tasks with its powerful M3 chip and a stunning 500-nit display. The MacBook's fanless design makes it super quiet, perfect for working in a library or coffee shop while still enjoying a vibrant 2560 x 1664 display.

📱 Display: 15.6" vs 13.6"⚡ Refresh: 144 Hz vs 60 Hz⚖️ Weight: 77.60 oz vs 43.74 oz

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ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB)
Processor:AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS (Zen 3+, 8 cores, up to 4.75 GHz)
Graphics:NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU (6GB GDDR6, 140W TGP max)
AI Engine:No (Not supported on Ryzen 7 7735HS)
Cooling:Dual Arc Flow Fans (84-blade) with 4 exhaust vents
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Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)

4.9
(2,424)Best Buy
Processor:Apple M3 (8-core CPU: 4 performance + 4 efficiency)
Graphics:Apple M3 (8-core or 10-core GPU, depending on config)
AI Engine:16-core Neural Engine
Cooling:Passive (Fanless silent design)
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Key spec differences

Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.

Display2 specs
Display SizeKey
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB)
15.6"Winner
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)
13.6"
Refresh Rate
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB)
144 Hz (G-SYNC supported)Winner
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)
60 Hz
Performance2 specs
RAMKey
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB)
16 GB DDR5-4800 (2x 8GB SO-DIMM)Winner
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)
8 GB, 16 GB, or 24 GB Unified Memory
Storage
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB)
1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDWinner
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)
256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, or 2 TB SSD
Battery1 specs
Battery CapacityKey
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB)
90 Wh (4-cell Li-ion)
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)
52.6 Wh (Lithium-polymer)
Design1 specs
Weight
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB)
2,200 g (4.85 lbs)
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)
1,240 g (2.7 lbs)Winner
Software1 specs
Operating System
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB)
Windows 11 Home
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)
macOS (Sonoma or later)
Connectivity1 specs
Connectivity
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB)
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.3; Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45)
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)
Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3
+

Full specs, pros, and cons

Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.

Comparison: ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB) vs Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)

ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB)

ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB)

4.3(66)Amazon
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)

4.9(2,424)Best Buy
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB)

ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB)

Rating:4.3(66)Amazon
Processor:AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS (Zen 3+, 8 cores, up to 4.75 GHz)
Graphics:NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU (6GB GDDR6, 140W TGP max)
AI Engine:No (Not supported on Ryzen 7 7735HS)
Cooling:Dual Arc Flow Fans (84-blade) with 4 exhaust vents
RAM:16 GB DDR5-4800 (2x 8GB SO-DIMM)
RAM Upgrade:Yes (2x DDR5 SO-DIMM slots, up to 32 GB)
Storage:1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
Storage Upgrade:Yes (2x M.2 PCIe Gen 4 slots)
Display Size:15.6"
Resolution:1920 x 1080 (FHD)
Aspect Ratio:16:9
Screen Type:IPS-level (Anti-glare)
Refresh Rate:144 Hz (G-SYNC supported)
Brightness:250 nits (Typical)
Color Gamut:100% sRGB
Keyboard Layout:US English (ANSI) with NumPad
Keyboard Backlight:Yes (1-zone RGB Mini-LED)
Biometrics:No (Not supported)
Webcam:720p HD camera
USB Ports:1x USB 4 Type-C (DisplayPort); 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (DisplayPort/PD/G-SYNC); 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
Video Ports:1x HDMI 2.1 FRL
Audio Ports:1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
Connectivity:Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.3; Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45)
Battery:90 Wh (4-cell Li-ion)
Charger:240 W AC adapter
Weight:2,200 g (4.85 lbs)
Build Material:Plastic chassis with Aluminum lid (Mecha Gray)
Operating System:Windows 11 Home

✓ Pros:

  • Large 90Wh battery provides excellent endurance for a gaming laptop
  • GPU runs at full 140W TGP for maximum RTX 4050 performance
  • Comprehensive connectivity including USB 4 and HDMI 2.1
  • 100% sRGB color coverage (significant upgrade over older TUF 144Hz panels)
  • Military-grade durability (MIL-STD-810H) with robust cooling

✗ Cons:

  • Screen brightness is limited to 250 nits, making outdoor use difficult
  • Fans can become quite loud under turbo loads
  • No biometric security (fingerprint or face unlock)
  • 720p webcam is average quality

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)

Rating:4.9(2,424)Best Buy
Processor:Apple M3 (8-core CPU: 4 performance + 4 efficiency)
Graphics:Apple M3 (8-core or 10-core GPU, depending on config)
AI Engine:16-core Neural Engine
Cooling:Passive (Fanless silent design)
RAM:8 GB, 16 GB, or 24 GB Unified Memory
RAM Upgrade:No (Unified Memory architecture)
Storage:256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, or 2 TB SSD
Storage Upgrade:No (Soldered)
Display Size:13.6"
Resolution:2560 x 1664 (Native)
Aspect Ratio:16:10 (plus additional height for menu bar/notch)
Screen Type:Liquid Retina (IPS; LED-backlit)
Refresh Rate:60 Hz
Brightness:500 nits
Color Gamut:Wide color (P3)
Keyboard Layout:US English (Magic Keyboard)
Keyboard Backlight:Yes (Ambient light sensor)
Biometrics:Touch ID (Fingerprint reader)
Webcam:1080p FaceTime HD camera
USB Ports:2x Thunderbolt / USB 4 (Up to 40Gb/s; Charging; DisplayPort)
Video Ports:USB-C DisplayPort (Supports 1 external display up to 6K@60Hz; OR 2 external displays with lid closed)
Audio Ports:1x 3.5mm Headphone jack (Advanced support for high-impedance headphones)
Connectivity:Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3
Battery:52.6 Wh (Lithium-polymer)
Charger:30W (Base 8-core GPU model) or 35W Dual Port / 70W Fast Charger (Higher configs)
Weight:1,240 g (2.7 lbs)
Build Material:100% Recycled Aluminum enclosure
Operating System:macOS (Sonoma or later)

✓ Pros:

  • Significantly faster M3 chip with hardware-accelerated ray tracing
  • First MacBook Air to natively support two external monitors (in clamshell mode)
  • Completely silent fanless operation
  • Exceptional build quality with a bright 500-nit P3 display
  • MagSafe 3 charging frees up both Thunderbolt ports for peripherals

✗ Cons:

  • Base model starts with only 8GB RAM and 256GB storage (slow SSD speeds on 256GB)
  • Limited to 60Hz refresh rate (no ProMotion 120Hz)
  • Zero user-upgradeability for RAM or storage
  • Thermal throttling can occur under sustained heavy workloads due to lack of fans

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Which one is better?

The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB) is the better buy for most people - its 144Hz refresh rate crushes the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024). That said, grab the MacBook Air if you prefer a lighter, quieter machine for productivity tasks - it's lighter.

Who should buy each?

Choose the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB) if: you want to game frequently, need high refresh rates, or require heavy multitasking with plenty of RAM. (15.6" display, 144 Hz refresh)
Choose the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024) if: you value a lightweight design, prefer silent operation, or primarily work on productivity tasks. (13.6" display, 60 Hz refresh)

Conclusion

ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB) and Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024) are both solid choices. Match the strengths above to your budget and workflow to make the best call.

Frequently Asked Questions

+Which has better value?

ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB) excels if you value large 90wh battery provides excellent endurance for a gaming laptop. Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024) is better if you prioritize significantly faster m3 chip with hardware-accelerated ray tracing. Pick based on your budget and daily use.

+Is this an independent review?

Yes. We use affiliate links for monetization, but recommendations are research-driven and unbiased.

+Do newer models exist?

Check release timelines from the manufacturers and compare pricing before you buy. We refresh this page when major updates land.

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